As I said in my last blog, my time in Oregon gave me a chance to reflect but also to see that the Lord truly answers prayers. Today I want to share one of the amazing answers. During our discussions about marriage RuthAnn and I had to decide where we were going to live. She was and still is the head teacher and active 4th thru 8th grade teacher at the Wimbish Adventist School, in Macon Georgia. It is a vital ministry that continues to effect children and parents’ lives. That was on one side. I had decided to retire from being a construction Project Manager and work full time for the Lord. It seemed I could do that best in the churches where I was already established. Cave Junction church had even asked if I would be willing to be a lay minister in their church. Along with that I had a growing Soup Kitchen ministry and was seeking to join my best friend Larry in growing the Dorcas Community Service ministry at the Grants Pass Church. I also loved being Youth Sabbath School leader and heading the Fellowship Meal ministry. This all led to a lot of prayer and a hard decision.
In the end living in Georgia was both the ministerial and practical place for us to live. Of course, this meant the ministries I was working and leading in Grants Pass would need new leadership to move forward. Most of them I knew would have smooth transitions, leaders could and would be found. But the Soup Kitchen had been a tough ministry from the start. Maybe a little background will help you understand.
In a way it’s beginning was an answer to prayer. The man I mentioned earlier who is the Dorcas/Community Service leader at the Grants Pass Church, Larry, was looking for another way to connect with the public. And with much determination and effort Soup Kitchen was born. At the same time my wife Dianne and myself were seeking information on how to start a soup kitchen not knowing Larry was doing the same thing. But once we learned his was in operation we both volunteered immediately.
At the time it was being held on Thursday night and attendance was not good. In fact, it was so discouraging that it was decided to shut it down for the winter months or maybe forever. On the last night we all prayed and asked the Lord if this ministry was His will, if so send, I think it was six people.
If that happened, we would start back up in the spring. It did, and we shut down determined to do better next year.
But that did not happen. We did re-open in the spring. By this time, I was more or less leading the ministry just because I was a good cook and prepared most of the food. I tried many gimmicks, but nothing worked, we were to far away from downtown to attract homeless folks and so few showed up. So, discouraged once again in the fall we shutdown not knowing if it would be for good.
It was a burden on my heart. I knew God loved this ministry but I could not see how to make it work, so I prayed. During the next year’s 10 days of prayer, He answered. It was simple, hold soup kitchen on the day and at the time those in need would already be on the church grounds, Dorcas Tuesday, the day when food and clothes were given away. I told Larry and he got church board to agree, Soup Kitchen would now be every Tuesday from 11:00AM till noon. And when we did it God’s way it worked, people started to come. Ten and twenty at first. Then we averaged thirty to forty, sixty to eighty and into the hundreds. It was working but now I had to leave the ministry I nurtured and loved. Who would take over leadership?
At first it seemed no one was willing. It was a big commitment. But finally, a good woman who had worked with me during my time as leader came forward and took over as I was leaving. The ministry flourished even more under Rinann, she was a good cook and a good leader. With help from the Grants Pass SDA school volunteers it looked as if the ministry was solid. But life happens. Tragedies and hard times hit Rinann but she struggled on until recently when she informed Larry she had to step down. Again, it looked as if the Soup Kitchen was in trouble. Then another answer to prayer, Hector showed up.
He was the most unlikely of men. One Tuesday coming to Dorcas seeking help for his family, food just to help them get by. Hector himself had just come to the Lord, but he wondered how he could be of help to those willing to help him. Volunteering to work in the kitchen, it was soon found that he was a cook with much experience and amazingly could step right into the vacuum Rinann’s leaving would create and he has.
He and his hard-working family now run Soup Kitchen with efficiency and to record numbers showing up every week to share in Hector’s feasts that he creates. When I was there last Tuesday I saw the long line of answered prayers that had led to where the ministry is now, and I was overjoyed and humbled.
Jesus promised, “So I say to you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find, knock, and it will be opened to you. (Luke 11:9) For me the Grants Pass, Oregon- Dorcas/Community Service Soup Kitchen lives on as proof that anything we seek in God’s will, the answers will come, and they will be better than anything we imagined. Seek the Lord today in prayer, He is waiting for your knock!
Blessings John
10/31/18
